If you want to serve them warm
You want to serve warm croissants, but need to choose between something that’s ready to eat and a product you still need to bake at home. The time you have on Sunday morning makes all the difference.
Who are these options for?
If you’re making breakfast for several people
Check the number of croissants in each pack and how they’re stored, so you can buy enough without preparing more than you need.
If you need to check ingredients or allergens
You’ll need the information for the specific product. You can’t assume that a butter croissant, a plant-based option and a croissant labelled gluten-free are interchangeable based on the product name alone.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide when you want to serve the croissants and whether you’re happy to bake them at home. Then check the pack and any information that matters to your guests.
Fresh or bakery-baked
Choose this if: you want to serve them without baking at home; ALDI, for example, offers fresh butter croissants individually.
Bear in mind: availability may vary between shops, so it may be harder to guarantee an exact quantity in advance.
Bake-at-home croissants
Choose this if: you want to prepare warm croissants at home at a time you’ve planned.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time to prepare them and an appliance suited to the instructions for your chosen product.
Frozen croissants
Choose this if: you want to keep a supply in the freezer for a later breakfast.
Bear in mind: you’ll need freezer space and should follow the instructions on the specific pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| When you’ll serve them | Check whether the croissants are ready to serve or need to be prepared, and read the instructions if they do. | If breakfast needs to be ready at a set time, I want to know whether I’ll need extra oven time. Ease and timing are the top priorities for an estimated 36% of consumers. |
| Quantity and stock | Compare the number of croissants, pack weight and storage method. | When breakfast is for several people, I want to buy enough without ending up with unnecessary leftovers. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces of allergens. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to assess the exact product. This check is the top priority for an estimated 21% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g or per serving, and check the serving size. | If I want to compare what’s in my breakfast, the values for the product I’ve chosen are more useful than its name. Nutritional information comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Using the same baking time for every croissant
Bake-at-home croissants, frozen products and croissant dough may all need different preparation. This matters if breakfast needs to be ready at a particular time.
Read the instructions for the specific product before buying. PLUS recommends 4–6 minutes at 200 °C in the oven or 4 minutes at 180 °C in the air fryer for its butter croissants to bake at home. Don’t use these timings for other products.
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Assuming gluten-free means allergen-free
According to the product information, the gluten-free Consenza croissants sold by PLUS contain egg and soya; other possible allergens are also mentioned. So a gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific pack against the requirements of the person who’ll be eating it.
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Assuming online availability means it’s in store
A product listed online may not be available in every shop. Lidl says its fresh bakery range may vary by shop; Albert Heijn only sells some loose options in store.
Check availability at your chosen shop before planning breakfast around a particular croissant.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
A product listing iodised salt tells you nothing about the ingredients in another croissant. Jumbo, for example, lists it for a specific Délifrance variety.
If the iodine information matters to your choice, read the ingredients list for the product you want to buy.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
The croissant range includes fresh, bake-at-home and frozen options, as well as mini and butter varieties.
- Useful for comparing product types and pack sizes side by side.
- Some loose options are only available in store; check your chosen shop.
Jumbo
The online range includes butter, plant-based and frozen croissants in a variety of pack sizes.
- The number of croissants, weight and product type make it easier to compare options for your guests.
- Check the preparation method and allergens on the page or pack for the specific product.
Lidl
A shop-based option for fresh-from-the-oven products and croissants to bake at home.
- Lidl describes its butter croissants as a product to bake at home.
- This product is listed as available in store only; the fresh range may vary by shop.
ALDI
Offers fresh butter croissants individually as an in-store option.
- An individually sold croissant is worth considering if you want to serve them without baking at home.
- Check that it’s available at your shop before you visit.
PLUS
Offers croissants to bake at home, including a butter variety, and a separate option labelled gluten-free.
- The product pages reviewed include preparation, ingredients, allergen and nutritional information for the products listed.
- Product information can change; check the label on the pack you buy too.
Dirk
Search results show both individually sold butter croissants and multipacks.
- The quantities listed give you a starting point when planning breakfast for several people.
- Check the product information or label for ingredients and preparation instructions.
Croissants for different breakfast needs
These Joybuy products may suit you if you’re looking for croissants for Sunday breakfast. Pay particular attention to the difference between serving them straight away and baking them at home, and check how many you get in each pack and how they need to be prepared.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant 85 g
An option if you want to serve croissants without baking them at home: the product description says this croissant is ready to eat. The stated net weight is 85 g; if you’re buying for several people, check how many croissants you get per sales unit.
Check the latest information about wheat, egg and milk. The product description also warns that the listed colourings E102 and E110 may adversely affect children’s activity and attention.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces
Four croissants to bake at home, giving you a set quantity to plan for breakfast. Read the preparation instructions on the pack before deciding when to serve them.
If you need to check allergens, look for information about wheat and possible traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
Four croissants make it easy to plan the quantity for a small group. Before planning breakfast, check the pack to see whether they’re ready to serve or need to be prepared.
If you need to check allergens, read the latest information about cereals containing gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants
A mini option to consider if you want to serve smaller croissants. Check the weight and number of pieces on the specific pack before buying for your guests; the pack details listed vary.
The product description says these are prepared in the oven. Read the instructions and latest allergen information on the pack, including details about gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose fresh, bake-at-home or frozen croissants for Sunday breakfast?
Choose fresh or bakery-baked if you want to serve them straight away, bake-at-home if you can set aside time to prepare them, or frozen if you want to keep a supply in the freezer. For the latter two options, check the instructions on the specific pack. For example, PLUS recommends 4–6 minutes at 200 °C in the oven for its butter croissants to bake at home, but that timing won’t automatically apply to other products.
Can I choose a standard butter croissant if I have a gluten or milk allergy?
Don’t rely on the name alone: check the allergens for the specific product before deciding. PLUS’s butter croissants to bake at home list wheat, spelt and milk. A croissant labelled gluten-free may contain other allergens too; the Consenza variety at PLUS lists egg and soya.
Does every croissant contain iodised salt?
No, you can’t assume that every croissant does. Jumbo lists iodised salt for a specific Délifrance variety; if this matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the pack you want to buy.
How do I compare the nutritional value of different croissants?
Compare the same values on the same basis, such as per 100 g or per serving, and check the weight of each croissant too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists, for a 45 g croissant, 181 kcal, 5 g saturated fat and 0.53 g salt, among other values. For a specific purchase, use the nutritional information on that pack.
How do I check allergens in an unpackaged croissant?
Ask for allergen information about the specific croissant before buying, for example at the counter or by speaking to a member of staff. Don’t rely solely on the product name or the ingredients in a similar pre-packed product.